Discussion
The complex tactics employed by the Russian government to manipulate public sentiment have been largerly discussed in connection with Russia's war in Ukraine. This paper focuses on contemporary "politics of pacification" strategies employed by the Russian government after the start of the war.
The concept of the
"politics of pacification" is not widely recognized as a distinct academic or theoretical concept yet. We define the term "politics of pacification" as a set of governmental or political strategies and actions aimed at calming or stabilizing a society, especially during times of conflict, crisis, or unrest.
Diverging from the traditional politics of fear, mobilization, or demobilization observed during peaceful periods, this approach emphasizes a unique form of politics—one that aims to induce a state of societal inaction during times of conflict. Through a calculated blend of targeted measures, the Kremlin seeks to quell dissent, divert attention away from political matters, and reduce the potential for mass protests.
In Russian context such measures include: discourse and media strategy of war covering, political strategy of calming down after the annunciation of the partial mobilization, demonstration that the Russian economy just benefits from sanctions, media strategy and narratives to show that Russia is still recognized on the international arena, media strategies that show Western Countries sufferings, silencing of war casualties, drones attacks and even the attack on the Kremlin, creating the appearance of normal life, discourse about those who have left, reassuring those who have stayed.
Data will be collected from
prominent Russian media, official documents, and speeches during the latter half of the first year of the war (August 24, 2022, to January 1, 2023), before and after partial mobilization. A comprehensive analysis of the Russian media landscape will be conducted using the SCAN Interfax platform. Relevant articles and messages from the selected websites and media platforms will be extracted based on specific keywords. Content analysis of the identified articles will be performed using the Atlas.ti software. Critical discourse analysis will enable us to address three aspects of the research question: the styles of politics of pacification, discursive strategies, and extra-discursive behaviors of political actors.
The study will unveil the strategies and methods used by the Russian government to influence public sentiment and responses. It aims to determine the effectiveness of these pacification efforts and their implications for contemporary governance during crises. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the "politics of pacification" and its implications for contemporary governance in times of crisis.
